Category: Music News

Legendary Nashville guitarist Adam Shoenfeld’s new solo album All the Birds Sing

Adam Shoenfeld’s new solo album All the Birds Sing will be out in January. Photo: LYRIC Magazine

In 1994, at 20 years old, Adam Shoenfeld moved to Nashville and soon integrated himself into the music community. He formed a band with “Big Kenny” Alphin called LuvjOi, which became one of the most popular draws on Nashville’s rock scene in that era. When Big Kenny then formed country duo Big & Rich with John Rich, they enlisted Shoenfeld to play guitar on their 2004 breakout hit, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.” Around this same time, Shoenfeld and Rich teamed up to write a hit for Faith Hill, resulting in her 2005 No. 1 single, “Mississippi Girl.” He will release his first solo album, All the Birds Sing, in January 2022. (Adam Shoenfeld, 2021)

From the first notes of Shoenfeld’s new record – out January 28 via Lozen Entertainment Group/Copperline–the musicianship and wealth of drawn influences are readily apparent. Spending the last two decades bringing his rock-leaning sound to Nashville’s premier country music scene and his last nine years in Tim McGraw’s touring band, Shoenfeld has channeled all of these words and melodies of his own for something brand new; something apart from his country “day-job.” “I love getting to play guitar for people and making a living doing that,” he says. “It’s the best job in the world, but I’ve always been an artist at heart.” The Boot premiered the first single from All the Birds Sing, “The Sky is Falling Down” paired with an exclusive interview with Shoenfeld. Although the ELO-string section-influenced song alludes to the chaos in the world, there is a silver lining in its message. Fans can hear “The Sky is Falling Down” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save All the Birds Sing ahead of its January 28 release right here.

Although he opted out of becoming known as a country artist, Shoenfeld’s playing has shaped the genre for decades now. He believes that being around the industry for this long, watching what artists go through, gave him the confidence to step out as a solo performer. “It’s all built up to this point where I’m like, ‘You know what? I need to do this. I need to put it out there to see if I can touch some people with this music,’” he says. From the rock anthem “Getting to Me” to the poetic songwriting of “Say a Word,” Shoenfeld is doing exactly that. The cornerstone of All the Birds Sing is the poignant title track, which he wrote in ten minutes in a hotel room, in tears, for someone close to him who was going through a tough time. However, its tender lyrics resonate in his own life too.

All the Birds Sing Track list:
The Sky is Falling Down
Gettin’ to Me
All the Birds Sing
Eleven
Son
Pave Those Highways
Lose to Win
Her Song
Norwegian Wood
Say a Word

Photo: google
2022-01-28T09:09:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

All the Birds Sing release date

Agarita celebrates San Antonio Museum of Art’s anniversary

Agarita celebrates San Antonio Museum of Art’s 40th anniversary with free community concert. Photo: Agarita

An innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, Agarita offers a new way to experience classical and contemporary music. Rooted in San Antonio and founded by Daniel Anastasio (piano), Marisa Bushman (viola), Ignacio Gallego (cello), and Sarah Silver Manzke (violin), Agarita nourishes the local community through artistic collaborations, community engagement, and free, adventurous programming. (Agarita, 2021)

Agarita was recently named San Antonio Magazine’s Best of the City 2021: Culture winner for its collaboration with area partners. It works intimately with local artists of various genres to weave cross-artistic narratives for each concert. Agarita’s past collaborations have included the McNay Art Museum’s Pop América exhibit, lighting artist Chuck Drew, Cameron Beauchamp from the Grammy Award-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, chef Elizabeth Johnson and Pharm Table restaurant, poet Laura Van Prooyen, sculptor Danville Chadbourne, educational arts institution SAY Sí, and the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival for a concert inside San Antonio’s historic Mission San José.

As a nonprofit organization, Agarita believes that the arts should be accessible to everyone in its community. Agarita presents free public concerts, performs at local schools, and offers opportunities for other artists through its collaborations. The next event will take place on Sunday, December 12 at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Agarita Celebrates SAMA’s 40th!
Date: Sunday, December 12, 2021
Time: 11a.m. – 12:15p.m.
Location: San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 West Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
Collaborator: Highlights of SAMA’s permanent collection
Description: Agarita returns to the San Antonio Museum of Art for a concert celebrating the museum’s 40th anniversary. Musical selections will reflect artworks on display in the special exhibit. This concert is FREE and open to the public.

Mariachi Herencia de México presents ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’

Mariachi Herencia de México’s new mariachi take on ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The Latin GRAMMY®-nominated group of young Mexican-American musicians ring in the holiday season with a new mariachi take on “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Mariachi Herencia de México, composed of both male and female musicians from Chicago, recreate the Andy Williams Christmas classic with a fresh and modern sound that is sure to leave you filled with holiday cheer. It is available now on all music platforms. (Mariachi Herencia de México, 2021)

“We’re excited to release our own version of this Christmas classic. It’s the perfect track for everyone’s holiday playlist. We made the track for everyone to enjoy, no matter where you’re from or how old you are, everyone loves Christmas.” – Ruben Núñez, lead vocalist and trumpet player for the band

Composed by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was originally recorded and released in 1963 by pop singer Andy Williams. For this version, Mariachi Herencia de México collaborated once again with the band’s musical director Rigoberto Alfaro ( Latin GRAMMY® winning producer), one of the most revered and innovative composers of the mariachi genre credited for his work with the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Juan Gabriel, Joan Sebastian, Rocio Durcal, Alejandro Fernandez just to mention a few.

“Maestro Alfaro wrote a beautiful arrangement that combines references from traditional mariachi music, with the timeless pop sound of the original recording. The song has such a happy and uplifting vibe, which is exactly what we wanted to share with our fans this Christmas season.” – Melanie Juárez, lead vocalist and guitar player for the band

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” features a beautiful duet, a fusion of both male and female voices, with lead vocals from both Núñez and Juárez.

“It’s a masterpiece. This is mariachi music at its most sophisticated and most modernistic. It’s almost the antithesis of folklore, almost futuristic. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now, all groups will sound like this, I don’t know. But it is state-of-the-art.” – Jonathan Clark, a mariachi expert and historian

Mariachi Herencia de México was formed in Chicago and is composed of eighteen young musicians between 17 and 22 years old. The Latin GRAMMY-nominated band has released four highly acclaimed studio albums with chart-topping debuts on both the Billboard and the iTunes Latin Albums charts, defying a music industry trend and pointing to a revival in recorded mariachi music.

“In every recording, this group proves their commitment to Mexican music. These young musicians understand the essence of our music. They have an important role to play in helping to preserve mariachi music with new generations.” – Cesar Maldonado, the band’s Director and Founder.

To celebrate the Christmas season, Mariachi Herencia de México embarks on a special holiday tour titled “A Very Merry Christmas” on December 17, 18 and 19, 2021 at Chicago’s Thalia Hall and the Old Town School of Folk Music. Tickets are on sale now.

Signed to IMG Artists, a major international talent agency, Mariachi Herencia de México has toured throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The band has performed alongside major artists like Lila Downs, Aida Cuevas, Los Lobos, Pedro Fernández, and Mariachi Vargas de Tecatitlán, demonstrating that this group of young musicians has the talent, training and bravado to hold their own with the best in the world.

Emo-Pop rocker Secondhand Serenade set to release new album next year

Secondhand Serenade is currently on tour in support of the upcoming new album Just Because You Sing Loud. Photo: google

Emo-Pop Rocker Secondhand Serenade (AKA John Vesely) is set to release new album Just Because You Sing Loud in 2022 with his first single ONE setting things off in November. The release of this new album will kick off with a tour of the same name across 32 US cities. He will be releasing singles regularly through the tour building up to the release of the new album, his first full project since 2017. The name of his album/tour stems from a unique confrontation Vesely recently had. He and his wife recently moved into a temporary apartment while awaiting construction to finish on their new Nashville home. Following a few months of a not-so-happy neighbor complaining about his songwriting sessions and banging on walls, Vesely woke up to an aggressive letter on his door complaining about the noise that was summed up with the statement “Just Because You Sing Loud Doesn’t Mean Its Good.” At first, the note was hurtful to Vesely as he had never experienced this kind of pushback from neighbors in the past. However, he quickly turned the letter into a form of inspiration for his forthcoming album. Now, the letter remains framed on a wall in his studio serving as a reminder that any of life’s negativity can be turned into something positive. (Secondhand Serenade, 2021)

Regarding his upcoming tour/album Just Because You Sing Loud, Secondhand Serenade said, “To say that I’m excited to get back on the road again is an understatement. I’ve also been working hard to finish this next album, which is a total throwback to my roots. So it should be really fun to add some of these new songs into the set and see some first listen reactions in real time. We’re definitely ending 2021 on a strong note!”

In the early days of social networking, there were no classes, no courses, no gurus to assist musicians in building a fan base. Yet in the mid-2000s, Secondhand Serenade used his hard work and determination to connect with fans online and build a community of followers which resulted in the then Bay Area resident reaching the number 1 unsigned artist spot on MySpace after the release of his debut album, Awake. He would later re-release the acoustic project as the first ever artist signed to the now famed Glassnote Records. Vesely followed that up with his 2008 Danny Lohner-produced album, A Twist In My Story, which would catapult the emo-pop songwriter to the top of the charts. The lead single, a part piano ballad, part pop-rock tune called “Fall For You” would solidify the first major hit for both the artist and the young label, securing its spot in the top 5 at US radio, eventually going 3-times platinum. International touring, late night shows and award show appearances became the new norm for the singer-songwriter who was quickly becoming the voice of the emo generation. Fast forward to a post pandemic life and Secondhand Serenade is now priming yet another full album along with a nationwide, headlining tour. The timing could not be better with a resurgence in the emo scene and a new project worth of material rolling out over the coming months.

Just Because You Sing Loud Tour Dates:
Wednesday, December 8 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
Thursday, December 9 – Anaheim, CA – The Parish At House Of Blues
Friday, December 10 – Fresno, CA – Strummer
Saturday, December 11 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
Monday, December 13 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Wednesday, December 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand @ The Complex
Thursday, December 16 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Friday, December 17 – Omaha, NE – Barnato
Saturday, December 18 – Joliet, IL – The Forge

Loney Hutchins releases new album of gems from Nashville’s lauded past

Loney Hutchins’ new album Buried Loot, Demos from the House of Cash and Outlaw Era, ’73 – ’78 will be out December 10. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

A native of Appalachia, Loney Hutchins grew up across the holler from Clinch Mountain with one foot in Virginia and the other in Tennessee. His songwriting and flat-picked guitar style are indicative of his upbringing, grounded by the hard life of poverty he was born into, while inspired by the region’s natural beauty and the earliest sounds of Country Music. Hutchins left Tennessee for college through the GI Bill but returned for music in 1972 and soon finagled a job at the House of Cash. He inspired the character, “Loney” in Cash’s ’76 bicentennial rumination “Sold Out of Flagpoles.” (Loney Hutchins, 2021)

Around 1972, in a chance encounter with June Carter Cash, now-legendary Nashville song-man Loney Hutchins’ future was forever changed. After hearing his demo reel, June’s husband Johnny signed Hutchins to their House of Cash publishing company and the rest is history. Hutchins’ time at House of Cash coincided with the rise and pinnacle of America’s outlaw country movement, and on December 10, from the archives of Loney Hutchins, fans will be treated to a treasure trove of long-forgotten tunes of the era on a brand new release on Appalachia Record Co. titled Buried Loot, Demos from the House of Cash and Outlaw Era, ‘73- ‘78. Buried Loot is full of never-before-heard recordings, presented for the first time from 80+ hours of tape tucked away through the years by Hutchins. Much of the material is fully produced demos made for Johnny Cash when Hutchins managed the House of Cash publishing catalog, performed by in-demand session players of the time. Wide Open Country premiered “Pinball King,” writing “Hutchins flaunts his way with words.” Fans can hear “Pinball King” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Buried Loot ahead of its December 10 release right here. 

The songs compiled on Buried Loot are unmistakably influenced by the era in which they were recorded. There is the never-before-heard “Stoney Creek,” written by the woman often credited as coining the “outlaw” label, the late Hazel Smith, and Hutchins’ own material ranges from Byrds-ish country rock, Everly-esque ballads, to Appalachian folk and down and out honky-tonkers. Meanwhile, there are Cash-penned songs performed here as demos before they would officially be recorded and released—tongue in cheek numbers far from the Music Row norm like, “Committed To Parkview,” as well as a Helen Carter-penned tune never recorded, “You Gotta Live It Brother (If You Wanna Serve the Lord).”

Buried Loot Demos from the House of Cash and Outlaw Era, ‘73- ‘78 Track list:
Pinball King
Who’s Gonna Be My Fire?
Paradise
Fools Gold
Stoney Creek
One More Habit
Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t So
Daughter Of A Railroad Man
I Do Declare
Nashville Suite
Every Day’s A Monday
We Got It All
Four More Reasons
Whippoorwill
Whisky Lady
Taxi Please
Five Years In Hell
Committed To Parkview
Ya Gotta Live It
Hillbilly Ghetto
Reedy Creek
I’ll Always Have The Good Lord Watching Over Me
Sheets Of Green Clover
My Tennessee Hills

2021-12-10T14:57:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Buried Loot release date

Yonder Mountain String Band re-release Town by Town

Yonder Mountain String Band re-releases pivotal second album Town By Town for twentieth anniversary. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

September 27, 2021 marked the 20th Anniversary of award¬-winning Colorado bluegrass luminaries Yonder Mountain String Band’s incredibly popular and influential second studio album, Town by Town. To celebrate, YMSB has just announced a 20th-anniversary re-release of this modern classic on 180g double vinyl. Originally released on the band’s own independent label, Frog Pad Records, Town by Town features founding members Adam Aijala, Ben Kaufmann, Dave Johnston, and Jeff Austin, along with album producer and bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien who lends his talent on fiddle and bouzouki. “Wow, 20 years have gone by since I dove in with Yonder for a new recording,” says O’Brien. “It’s a good thing to look back and see what we did and what happened since.” The 20th Anniversary release of Town by Town is available on their online store. (Yonder Mountain String Band, 2021)

Over time, the songs of Town by Town have grown into classics in their own rights and are certainly considered fan favorites at YMSB’s legendary live shows. Additionally, Town by Town paved the way for the next generation of jam-grass talent who regularly pay tribute to the Nederland, Colorado-formed band—and specifically this album—in their live shows. Six-string shredder Billy Strings slides “Sorrow Is A Highway” into his live shows and Greensky Bluegrass cover “Peace of Mind” in their sets. Up and comers The Kitchen Dwellers cover “New Horizons” and fellow jam-circuit veteran Keller Williams put the same song on his first bluegrass album with Larry and Jenny Keel. YMSB’s reach expanded beyond the bluegrass community when rapper Bubba Sparxxx sampled “To See you Comin’ Round the Bend” for the track “Comin’ Round” from his 2003 album Deliverance.

Looking back twenty years later, it is apparent the impact Town by Town had—and continues to have—on YMSB’s fans and contemporaries. “They were excited and determined and open-minded. I pushed them some, they pushed me some and we both learned a lot,” remembers producer Tim O’Brien. “At that time Yonder was exploding on the scene, gathering new fans like a wet snowball rolling down a black diamond slope. I doubt they knew they were carving out their own legacy. I was honored to be there with them.” Check here for a full tour listing.

Town by Town 20th Anniversary Vinyl Track list:
Rambler’s Anthem
Easy As Pie
Idaho
Loved You Enough
Sorrow Is A Highway
Must’ve Had Your Reasons
Wildewood Drive
New Horizons
Check Out Time
To See You Comin’ Round The Bend
Red Tail Lights
A Father’s Arms
Hog Potato
Peace Of Mind

Del McCoury Band dives deep into working-man songbook with upcoming new album

Del McCoury Band’s new album Almost Proud will be out February 18, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Even among the pantheon of music’s finest artists, Del McCoury stands alone. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link. From headlining sold-out concerts to music festivals of all genres, not to mention one carrying his namesake, there is Del. Where audience members number in the tens of thousands and admirers as diverse as country-rock icon Steve Earle and jam band royalty Phish count as two among them, there is Del. (Del McCoury Band, 2021)

The easy humility of Del McCoury, after more than 6 decades of awards and honors, is remarkable. He sees himself as a working man who chose music as his vocation. So, it is no wonder that the collection of songs that comprise his upcoming album Almost Proud (McCoury Music) reflects a blue-collar mindset—four songs about love lost, one love song that sounds like many others he has cut as a tribute to his wife of 57 years, Jean, two cheatin’ songs, 2 drinkin’ songs, one extolling the virtues of hard work, and one about a working-class hero standing up to big coal in the West Virginia of the early nineteen hundreds. On February 18, McCoury’s latest venture into the recording studio will go live, but right now, Del and the boys of the Del McCoury Band have shared a sneak peek of Almost Proud with the tune “Running Wild,” a song that he started over 15 years ago and decided to finish when his son and band member Ronnie McCoury played him a portion of a demo that had been recorded and forgotten about. Clocking in at barely over two minutes, “Running Wild” is a classic bluegrass burner featuring McCoury’s unmistakable voice enveloped by the singing and picking of his sons Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo), as well as long time band members Alan Bartram (bass) and Jason Carter (fiddle). Fans can check out “Running Wild” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Almost Proud ahead of its February 18 release date right here.

Almost Proud is packed with songs from a wide variety of writers—well known and obscure—and includes a few performances from old friends. There are new songs like the aforementioned “Running Wild” and “Almost Proud,” a song written by his good friends Eric Gibson and Mike Barber that was cut just hours after it was written. McCoury tapped into his long friendship with Vince Gill to find the right high country vocal for “Honky Tonk Nights” and chose a little-known song from a recent Kris Kristofferson album called “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” to tell a story of married couples who have become perfect strangers. With “Once Again,” McCoury collaborated again with Josh Shilling, who joined him on piano.

Almost Proud Track list:
Almost Proud
Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
Rainbow of My Dream
My Little Darlin’
Running Wild
Brown Paper Bag
Honky Tonk Nights
Once Again
Sid Hatfield’s
The Misery You’ve Earned
Workin’ Man’s Wage
Other Shore

2022-02-18T13:34:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

Almost Proud release date

Balcones Heights Jazz Festival Christmas Concert

Multitalented Slim Man returns to headline the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival Christmas Concert. Photo: San Antonio Magazine

The inimitable, multitalented Slim Man will be headlining the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival Christmas concert on Friday, December 3. Local artist and jazz crooner Ken Slavin will serve as opening act at 7:30 p.m. The free concert will be held at Wonderland of the Americas Amphitheatre in Balcones Heights, Texas. (Balcones Heights Jazz Festival, 2021)

Slim Man, whose birth name is Timothy Camponeschi, is a singer, songwriter, bassist, producer, cook and teacher, and his charm and style have made him a crowd favorite. He will be performing for the 13th time for the jazz festival. He has recorded 12 CDs and was named Best Jazz Vocalist at the acclaimed Coachella Music Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. JD Considine of Rolling Stone magazine described Slim Man’s style as “a near-perfect example of how jazz and soul can be combined as pop.”

Slim Man. Photo: Discogs

Jazz crooner Ken Slavin is a popular and award-winning classic vocalist based in San Antonio. He recently made his New York City debut at the famed Metropolitan Room and produced a CD of the event, which is available at all major online music stores. He is celebrating 25 years as a professional singer in 2015 and recently became a voting member of the GRAMMY Awards.

“We are thrilled to close out our final 2021 concert series on a high note featuring Ken Slavin and Slim Man onstage for a holiday rendition. Slim Man closing out 2021 and marking his 13th year with us will be the event jazz fans will not want to miss out on.” – Director Economic Development & Public Affairs at City of Balcones Heights Lorenzo Nastasi.

“Bringing yet another facet of Christmas joy to Balcones Heights Jazz Festival fans is such a part of who we are as a city, and we are looking forward to concluding the series with talent like Ken Slavin and Slim Man.” – City of Balcones Heights Mayor Suzanne de Leon.

In 2020, the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival evolved from a summer concert season to a year-long concert series, which was adopted pre-pandemic to spread concerts throughout the year. As live entertainment was halted due to COVID-19, the City of Balcones Heights featured its first ever virtual Christmas Jazz Festival in December 2020. It was produced and posted online featuring local artists MiChelle Garibay-Carey and Zarabande.

The Balcones Heights Jazz Festival has captivated jazz aficionados from across Texas since 1994 with a free, stellar lineup and a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. Outdoor seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Regulars, or “jazz babies,” come early to grab their favorite spots along the edge of the sparkling reflecting pool and fountains of the city’s main hub, Wonderland of the Americas.
Food trucks will be available.

When he was 5 years old, Slim Man saw a movie, “The Five Pennies,” with his dad, and when Louis Armstrong came on the big screen to play the trumpet and sing, he told his dad, “That’s what I want to do.” Slim Man studied trumpet for the next nine years and taught himself how to play piano and guitar. After studying piano, composition and harmony at Peabody Institute in his native Baltimore, Slim Man began working as a songwriter for Motown Records. His songs have been recorded by The Temptations, Angela Bofill, Carl Anderson and others. Slim Man also recorded a CD for Motown, giving birth to his signature style.

Slim Man also offers singing lessons, focusing on breathing techniques, simple performance hacks, vibrato control, and finding the appropriate range, tone and style.

He has been busy in the kitchen, too, creating recipes for his cookbooks. In 2016, he released “Slim Man Cooks,” containing 52 recipes that include plenty of Italian dishes, all with his own twist, as well as some of his own original recipes. The PDF version also includes links to dozens of videos as well as 52 charming stories—humorous tales about his family, his wild ride in the music business and his canine sidekick, Batu. Slim Man just released a sequel, “Slim Man Cooks 2,” which contains 30 new recipes, 30 stories and 30 videos.

Agarita presents ‘Postcards from the Border’ at UT Health San Antonio

Agarita presents a free live performance to benefit Refugee Health Clinic. Photo: Agarita

Join us for another FREE live performance of “Postcards from the Border” on Monday November 22 at 6p.m. featuring Agarita. Presented by UT Health San Antonio, donations from this concert will directly benefit the Refugee Health Clinic, which addresses the social and health needs of over 4,000+ immigrant refugees living in northwest San Antonio. (Agarita, 2021)

Inspired to tell a more genuine story of our Texas border with Mexico, photographer Joel Salcido and writer Oscar Cásares traveled the length of the Rio Grande River, resulting in the series “Postcards From The Border,” which appeared last year in Texas Monthly. Agarita will pair music to these beautiful and poignant images, narrated by Oscar Cásares.

Featuring music by Ravel, Guastavino, Paul Wiancko, Biber, and Liszt.

This program is bilingual. Masks are required.

UTHSC Holly Auditorium
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229

This event is FREE and open to the public. To register for your free seat, CLICK HERE.

To support the Refugee Health Clinic, you can donate HERE or text “ETHICS” to 91999.

An innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, Agarita offers a new way to experience classical and contemporary music. Rooted in San Antonio and founded by Daniel Anastasio (piano), Marisa Bushman (viola), Ignacio Gallego (cello), and Sarah Silver Manzke (violin), Agarita nourishes the local community through artistic collaborations, community engagement and free, adventurous programming. With concise, eclectic performances that are “splendid – unified, spirited, [and] well prepared” (Greenberg, Incident Light), the young chamber group offers a new, open-armed experience for listeners. 

Agarita was recently named San Antonio Magazine’s Best of the City 2021: Culture winner for its collaboration with area partners. It works intimately with local artists of various genres to weave cross-artistic narratives for each concert. Agarita’s past collaborations have included the McNay Art Museum’s Pop América exhibit, lighting artist Chuck Drew, Cameron Beauchamp from the Grammy Award-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, chef Elizabeth Johnson and Pharm Table restaurant, poet Laura Van Prooyen, sculptor Danville Chadbourne, educational arts institution SAY Sí and the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival for a concert inside San Antonio’s historic Mission San José.

As a nonprofit organization, Agarita believes that the arts should be accessible to everyone in the community. Agarita presents free public concerts, performs at local schools, and offers opportunities for other artists through its collaborations.

TikTok star Galvancillo launches Regional Mexican music career and music label

Part of a growing trend of using social media to launch music careers, twenty year old influencer makes the jump from custom car TikTok videos and Instagram fashion posts to Regional Mexican singer-songwriter. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

With social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram becoming a legitimate outlet for breaking new musical acts, social media influencer Galvancillo, aka Lorenzo Ochoa, pivots from posting custom car videos and fashion photos to that of “Regional Mexican” singer-songwriter. (Galvancillo, 2021)

Twenty year-old Galvancillo’s more than four million followers know him for his custom car videos that he shoots from his friend’s auto shop and posts on TikTok. He also has a burgeoning modeling career. Now in addition to his good looks, cute smile, fashion sense, eye for style, and amazing personality, he is adding to his resume the title of singer-songwriter. Building off the TikTok videos that made him famous, Galvancillo stays true to the fans of his custom car videos and fashion posts by centering his debut single and music video on the same subjects that made him famous.

TikTok has become an important platform for the independent music scene with an increasing number of musical talents using the social media platform to reach millions of fans in ways only previously available through radio airplay which often appeared to be completely booked up by major record labels. In contrast today, a relatively unknown artist can use a simple TikTok post to launch their career. Since TikTok is the platform that made him known it only makes sense that Galvancillo will use that outlet to launch his musical career.

Says Lorenzo Ochoa, the man known as Galvancillo, “I wanted the song and music video for Placozo Mi Estilo to be similar to what people already know me for, but more extravagant.”

Lyrically the song is an expression of overcoming, of moving from locked door, to locked door until you find that one that opens for you. Visually the music video, directed by rising filmmaker known as “Barf,” features Lorenzo Ochoa’s home town of Houston Texas. The custom auto shop where he shot many of his TikTok videos has been sexily lit to look more like a night club and the finest of tricked out trucks and low rider cars are featured along with flossy fashion that Galvancillo is known for modeling.

“In the end it’s what I relate to and what my TikTok fans relate to, that life of luxury and exuberant experiences that we all wish for and work so hard to get. Of course it’s extra and over the top, but that’s the fun pretend part.” Adds Ochoa.

Galvancillo / Lorenzo Ochoa is not creating music completely independently though. He has started his own music label, “De La H Music,” and has joined forces with Fausto Juárez, CEO of Lamat Records and renowned producer of Regional Mexican music artists. Fausto will be managing Galvancillo’s artistic development and distribution of music, coordinating tours and of course promotion.

Lamat Records will use all the traditional musical mediums, but will also heavily involve social media platforms such as TikTok to expose Galvancillo’s charisma, with posts that maintain his approachable humility.

Galvancillo’s TikTok fans identify with Ochoa because he is a young dreamer just like them, full of goals which they work hard to attain each and every day. Galvancillo’s TikTok videos and now his songs and music videos demonstrate that anything can be achieved through perseverance, ingenuity, and most importantly to remain unique, try not to copy anyone, but instead stay true to yourself and your audience.